Snow Blower Maintenance Guide

You can be certain that your snow blower will do an excellent job and stay in good condition for years to come with the right kind of maintenance. The good news is that maintaining such a machine is fairly easy even if it comes with a gas engine. I speak from experience as I use such a machine to clean the traffic areas on the grounds of my small family hotel in the mountains of British Columbia. Use the following practical tips effectively and you will have clean driveways and walkways every winter.

Engine Maintenance

Those who have a snow blower with a gas engine should focus extensively on this part of the machine. The engine is the heart of the machine so if it works well, everything else will work well also.

You should check the oil level every time before using the snow blower. Add as much oil as necessary to ensure smooth operation of the engine. Follow the recommendations of the manufacturer on oil change. Typically, it has to be changed at least once a year.

If you have a machine with a two-stroke gas engine, you should exercise due care when mixing the oil and fuel and follow the instructions set by the manufacturer strictly. You must use the oil and fuel recommended by the manufacturer to ensure that the machine will have a long useful life.

The spark plug of the engine has to be changed frequently. Experts recommend that you should do this every 100 word hours or once every season. I would certainly agree.

You should consider adding a stabilizer to the fuel if you do not use the snow blower for a long period of time during the winter. The stabilizer will prevent the fuel from deteriorating and the carburetor and fuel passages from clogging.

General Maintenance

All snow blowers require tightening of the nuts and bolts from time to time. It is best if you do this regularly. In general, if you notice that the machine is vibrating more than usual, you should perform this task. Make sure that you tighten the bolts and nuts of the control linkages in particular.

If you have a two-stage snow blower, you should inspect the shear pins/bolts on a regular basis and ensure that they are tight. It is also a good idea for you to keep a number of spear bolts at hand. If the auger hits a hard object, the shear bolts take the blow and break in order to protect the case of the machine. They are quick and easy to replace provided that you have spare bolts handy.

The scraper and the skid shoes, if you use any, require regular adjustment so that they can be positioned perfectly on the ground. This will ensure that your snow blower works efficiently. Since these parts of the machine are in direct contact with the ground they are more prone to wear and tear and damage. That is why I would recommend that you inspect them seasonally and get them replaced when necessary.

If the blades/paddles of the auger are made from plastic they require frequent inspection as well. If they become worn out or get damaged, you should replace them timely. It is a good idea to get spare parts in advance to avoid the rush in case of an accident.

You should ensure that the auger is perfectly dry after each use to prevent the freezing of its blades. After using the snow blower to clean the traffic areas on your property, you should run the auger on a dry surface for a couple of minutes so that the water is eliminated naturally.

Chute and Auger Cleaning

It is not uncommon for the chute and/or auger of a snow blower to get clogged when the snow is wet. In such cases, you have to unclog the part manually. You must use an appropriate cleaning tool for the job. If it is not provided with the unit, you should buy it separately. You can clean the clogged part after turning off the gas engine or unplugging the electric machine from the cord. Wait for 20 seconds to ensure that the auger and impeller, if any, have stopped working.

Storage

You should start the preparation of a gas engine unit for storage with the draining of the fuel tank. If you do not want to do this job, you can readily run the machine until the tank is empty. The important thing is not to leave any fuel in the tank.

You need to clean the snow blower thoroughly before storing it. Make sure that you follow the instructions and recommendations of the manufacturer and that you adhere to all safety rules when performing this task. All parts of the machine have to be dry when it is stored.

You can increase the useful life of the machine by lubricating all parts and points which require this. Use an appropriate lubricant and work carefully to get the job well done.

Store the snow blower in a clean dry place which gets sufficient ventilation.

Pages

FTC Disclosure

MySnowBlowerReviews.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Copyright

MySnowBlowerReviews.com is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, Amazon.es